Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth began a three-day official visit to Russia on Wednesday, with discussions on military cooperation, training and defence ties between India and Russia set to feature prominently during his engagements.
The visit, scheduled from September 16 to 18, is aimed at strengthening ongoing Army-to-Army cooperation and advancing the longstanding defence partnership between the two countries, the Ministry of Defence said.
During his stay, General Seth is scheduled to meet Colonel General Andrei Nikolayevich Mordvichev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Land Forces. The two sides are expected to discuss issues of mutual interest, including professional military cooperation and training.
In Moscow, the Army Chief will receive a ceremonial Guard of Honour and pay homage to fallen soldiers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He will also visit the National Defence Control Centre and hold meetings with senior Russian Defence Ministry officials.
Among those he is scheduled to meet is Vasily Sergeyevich Osmakov, Deputy Minister of Defence responsible for defence industry and procurement. The meetings are expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on contemporary military developments and explore avenues for expanding defence cooperation.
General Seth will also travel to Saint Petersburg, where he is scheduled to visit the Mikhailovskaya Military Artillery Academy and interact with its leadership and faculty.
The Defence Ministry said the visit underlines the importance India and Russia attach to continued military diplomacy and sustained Army-to-Army engagement.
The visit comes amid continued high-level engagement between New Delhi and Moscow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. During the meeting, Modi reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy should guide efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, and their implications for maritime trade and the safety of Indian seafarers.
Defence cooperation between the two countries has also remained under discussion through institutional mechanisms. On August 20-21, the Working Group on Planning of the Russia-India Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation met in New Delhi.
According to the Russian Embassy in India, the meeting reviewed the joint activity plan for the current year, outlined measures for 2027 and discussed expanding interaction between the armed forces of India and Russia.
